Making the Most of Weekend Trips (ft. Madrid, London, & Florence)
by Adhya Singh
Helloo again! If you choose to study abroad during your time at NYU and want to travel to as many places as possible (me!), it can sometimes be challenging since NYU abroad sites and IBEX universities all tend to have very strict attendance policies. So, that means we have to make the most of our weekends (plus Friday, hopefully)!
Initial Tips
Start Booking Transportation Early - If you have a bucket list of places you really want to go to, book flights/trains 1-2 months in advance so you get the best price possible. Even if I didn’t have specific activities or places, I wanted to visit, by booking my transportation early, I forced myself to make plans with friends since I knew for sure that I would be in each location.
Prioritize activities - With only 2-3 days to explore a city, it can be hard to visit all the places you want to. Before you leave, try and prioritize what you want to do, ranging from nonnegotiable activities (things you absolutely must do no matter what) to more flexible activities (if you have extra time and feel like seeing).
Food - If you can, try the local cuisine or famous restaurants of the city you’re in. I’ve found some favorites in each of the cities I’ve been to!
Skip the metro and spend some time walking around - Walking around and seeing the architecture/landmarks is such a great way to explore! If you have time, walking between each activity you plan is an easy way to familiarize yourself and experience the city you’re in.
Don’t forget the memories you’ve made! - I’ve realized through these short trips that if you intend to travel a lot while abroad, it may be hard to remember everything you’ve experienced. So, take a lot of pics of everything and anything you want to! For my upcoming trips, I’m also going to journal every night so I can note down my emotions and thoughts while traveling.
Madrid
Activities I recommend: Royal Palacio de Madrid, El Rastro, Parque de El Retiro, TKO tacos, BOBA (Zenzoo)
Highlights: I love boba so much and it is unfortunately very lacking in Paris, but the boba in Madrid was so good I had it three times over three days. El Rastro is an amazing flea market – I bought a leather jacket, a wool coat, and a scarf for 50 euros and it’s probably the best deal I’ve ever gotten. Out of all the cities I visited, I spent the most time walking around in Madrid, and I absolutely fell in love with its different styles of architecture and overall chill vibe.
London
Activities I recommend: Tower of London (Crown Jewels), Chinatown (BOBA + Molly Tea!), Tower Bridge, Dishoom
Highlights: London definitely isn’t a very touristy place, but I’ve had some of the best Indian and East Asian food here during my time in Europe. Dishoom (a Michelin-rated restaurant) is a restaurant everyone should try at least once in their lives and Molly Tea, a cult classic in New York, is just as good in London (with a much shorter line!). The Crown Jewels in the Tower of London were so jaw dropping and stunning my friends and I saw it four times.
Florence
Activities I recommend: Le Duomo, Basilica de San Lorenzo, NYU Florence Campus, Uffizi Gallery
Highlights: Florence is the smallest of the cities I’ve visited so far, but it has such a quaint charm that I felt comfortable within hours of arriving in the city. If you love visiting historical sites, Florence is the place for you with Le Duomo, Basilica de San Lorenzo, and Uffizi Gallery. Also, if you love nature just like I do, the NYU Florence campus is perfect to explore. I spent over 2 hours just walking around the campus and through the valley.
